Arriving at Yong'anfang, one sees a long street like a dragon, brightly lit, which contrasts brilliantly with the imperial city in the distance, making it look like a paradise on earth.
The streets were packed with stalls selling everything from clothes and jewelry to snacks and cakes, lanterns and paper umbrellas, and acrobatic games. The cries of the vendors, the laughter and playfulness of the young people, the haggling between the merchants, and the music and dancing from the distant buildings were all captivating.
Xu Jiang caught a whiff of the aroma of meat from the crowd of people wearing fragrant clothes. She followed the aroma to the stall of a man from the Western Regions and stared at the grill in front of him with shining eyes.
"Is this venison?" Unlike the greasy texture of pork or the pungent aroma of mutton, venison has a unique sweetness, especially after being roasted. Furthermore, the people of the Western Regions are experts at roasting meat, using rich and unique spices that completely mask the fishy smell of the meat, leaving only a charred aroma that makes your mouth water.
The man from the Western Regions spoke fluent Chinese, "You are very knowledgeable, sir. This is venison. I just bought it from a hunter this afternoon. It is very fresh."
Xu Jiang saw that although the meat he grilled smelled delicious, there were few people in front of the stall. She guessed that the price was not cheap and asked, "How much is a skewer?"
"Sixty cents a string."
It's so expensive! One skewer can be exchanged for six dou of rice, and six dou of rice is enough for an ordinary family to eat for half a month. No wonder no one buys it. Xu Jiang asked the price and wanted to leave, but the venison was so delicious, and her stomach was rumbling with hunger, how could she resist?
Fortunately, the meat was expensive, but the portion was generous. A red willow branch half an arm's length could hold it all. So she said to the Western man, "Give me two skewers. Add more pepper and cumin, grill them a little more, and use less salt."
The man from the Western Regions couldn't help but glance at her and asked, "Are you an expert, girl?"
Xu Jiang stared at the skewers of meat he was flipping and swallowed. "This barbecue should be eaten the way you guys eat it back home, with a pot of wine or pomegranate wine, one bite at a time, to get the most delicious taste. But here in the market, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of life, it's fine to just eat it this way."
"Girl, have you ever been to our hometown?"
"Never, but I once made a friend from the Western Regions who was also an expert at barbecue. I was fortunate enough to taste this unique flavor, and it's still unforgettable."
The man from the Western Regions smiled brightly, took out a wine bag shaped like a scimitar from his waist and handed it to her, "My pomegranate wine, would you like to try it, young lady?"
Xu Jiang accepted it generously, uncorked it without hesitation and took a sip. The man from the Western Regions handed her the skewers of meat that were just cooked through, "Another bite of meat!"
The sweetness of the wine and the fragrance of the meat melted between their lips and teeth. Xu Jiang praised them generously: "The venison is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the pomegranate wine is rich and sweet. The two blend together like a Hu Ji dancing with a sword, both charming and fierce. How can one describe it with just one word, beautiful!"
The Western Regions man's mustache nearly flew up to his eyebrows upon hearing this. This guy was not only a good eater, but also a good talker! The people around had long smelled the aroma of venison and were already tempted to buy it, but were deterred by the high price. Now, after hearing Xu Jiang's vivid explanation and seeing her devouring the food with such gusto, someone couldn't resist, "Come on! Give me a bunch, just like hers."
As soon as he opened his mouth, the others could no longer stand still and immediately surrounded him, pushing Xu Jiang aside.
"I want one too!"
"One skewer is not enough! I want two! And give me a sip of pomegranate wine!"
Seeing that there was no place to stand, Xu Jiang simply stood inside the stall, slowly finished two skewers of meat, then put the money and wine bag on the file, squeezed out of the crowd and left contentedly.
“Thank you for the treat!”
The large man was so busy being surrounded by the crowd that he realized she had vanished after finishing her round. He picked up the wineskin and shook it; the pomegranate wine inside had been completely consumed. He then counted the copper coins she had left, and found he had thirty more coins for the wine. He thought to himself, this girl is not only a good eater but also a straightforward and honest gentleman. No wonder some of her fellow townspeople are interested in making friends with her. It's a shame I forgot to ask her name and where she lived, otherwise I could have made some friends.
Two skewers of venison and a bag of pomegranate wine were only enough to fill her stomach. Xu Jiang strolled along the long street, then stopped at an old woman's stall to drink a bowl of hot sugar porridge and eat a few fried fruits, finally filling her stomach to the brim. Over the years, she had traveled extensively, often without food, and had experienced frequent hunger. Unlike the current health trend of eating less than 80%, she was accustomed to being content with a full stomach; after all, a full meal gave her the strength to work and travel.
Xu Jiang, having eaten her fill, wasn't in a rush to go home. She followed the crowd, strolling along as she went, just to digest her food. Not far away, a juggler was performing magic tricks, and people gathered around him, occasionally erupting in cheers. Several lantern shops were also playing lantern riddles, and they were crowded, making the scene particularly lively. Xu Jiang wanted to go over and take a look, but the sight of the crowded heads made her give up. As she walked, she came upon a mask stall, covered with a variety of masks: immortals, Taoists, ghosts, goblins, livestock and beasts, flowers, birds, insects, and even white blanks, likely made to order with custom designs. The stall owner, a young man, sat behind the stall, his head lowered so his face couldn't be seen clearly. His hands, however, stood out. They were beautiful hands, one holding the blanks, the other holding a brush, the tip of which was dipped in bluestone powder, painting a pair of evil spirits' eyes.
Xu Jiang looked at it for a while and asked, "How much is the mask?"
The man was concentrating on drawing, but was startled by her sudden cry and his hands began to tremble, leaving an unsightly mark on the mask.
Xu Jiang saw this and panicked. She said hurriedly, "I'm sorry, I scared you, my dear."
The man sighed slightly. "It's okay. It was my own carelessness." He put down his things and stood up and asked, "Miss, do you want to buy a mask? Twenty cents each. You can choose any one you like."
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